Hair treatment tool including flat iron

ABSTRACT

A hair treatment flat iron allows hair to be treated with greater proximity to the root and with reduced awkwardness in doing so by providing angled surfaces at a shallow, acute angle on at least one edge of the heated plate of respective opposing portions of the flat iron. Treatment of hair closer to the root reduces the number of time the flat iron must be applied to a group of hair strands in order to achieve the desired effect while reduction of awkwardness in applying the flat iron to the hair reduces the time concentrated heat is applied near the scalp; thus greatly reducing likelihood of hair damage and scalp injury while facilitating and expediting use. A perfecting feature of the invention is provided by a curved surface of the plate and housing which allows the flat iron to be used as a curling or crimping iron.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a tool for treatment of the hair and, more particularly, to a tool for straightening or curling human hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Culturally, the condition and appearance of hair and other integument of both humans and animals is an important component of appearance and the appearance of overall health and physical condition. Accordingly, major industries have developed directed to grooming, particularly of human hair since many environmental conditions can alter the condition of the hair and adversely affect its appearance, including genetics and damaged hair cuticles. Similarly, a number of types of substances and tools for the treatment of the hair such as moisturizing hair care products and/or many specialized hair treatment tools such as curling or crimping irons have been developed with varying degrees of success at meeting their respective intended purposes for improving the appearance of the hair or improving hair condition.

In regard to the appearance and condition of the hair, when human hair lacks sufficient amounts of natural moisture, such as naturally secreted oils, and the like or is exposed to particularly high or low humidity, it tends to become porous. Under such conditions, cuticle layers which are not wound tightly together result in a brittle or rough appearance to the hair, Such appearance or condition of the hair is often referred to collectively as “frizzy” or, as a condition, “the frizzies”.

To improve or correct this appearance or condition, use of a so-called flat iron has been developed which may be used alone or in connection with various hair preparations which are of improved effectiveness when heated. Without wishing to be held to any particular theory of the effects produced upon the hair when treated with a flat iron, it is generally considered that the application of a flat, heated surface to the hair breaks down the hydrogen bonds within the hair fibers which cause curliness and realigns the cuticle layers of the hair; thus preventing the hair from holding the undesired shape until the hydrogen bonds can re-form (e.g. by washing the hair).

Known flat irons for performing such treatment of hair typically have two opposing portions connected by a spring-loaded hinge arranged such that the opposing portions may be brought together at will. Each of the two opposing portions includes a heating element (that may be thermostatically controlled, either separately or in common) for heating respective plates (typically of aluminum for reduced weight and enhanced heat transfer) which are covered with a thin layer of ceramic to prevent the hair from adhering thereto and to resist abrasion of both the plates and the hair. The edges of the plates are also usually covered with a relatively thin material which is a poor conductor of heat to prevent the relatively high temperature (often in the neighborhood of 450° F.) which the plates and ceramic must attain in order to properly and effectively treat the hair from being applied directly to the scalp where burns, hair breakage and weakening of the hair follicles could be caused. Possibly for much the same reasons but while using more commonly available and less expensive materials, the outer housing or covering of the opposing portions of the flat iron are generally formed in a semi-cylindrical or domed shape over the respective heating elements which forms a generally cylindrical shape when the opposing portions are brought together. Such a shape may also be thought to allow for more even and symmetrical transfer of heat to the ceramic covered aluminum plates (hereinafter simply “plates”).

A flat iron is generally applied by separating a relatively small group of hair strands, placing the hair strands between the opposing portions of the flat iron, closing the opposing portions on opposite sides of the hair strands near their roots and moving the flat iron to draw the hair strands between the heated opposing portions of the flat iron; thus ideally applying heat and compression pressure over substantially the entire length of the hair strands from the root to the end, while holding the hair strands in a substantially linear configuration. This procedure may be repeated on the same hair strands until the desired effect is achieved. However, while a flat iron has been found to be generally effective for its intended purpose, it is not optimally effective and a substantial number of repetitions of these operations of the same strands of hair is often required; greatly increasing the time required for treatment of the hair which is, at best, relatively arduous when performed on one's own hair, but greatly increases the likelihood of damage to the hair fibers or hair follicles by repeated exposure to concentrated high temperatures. Further, known designs of flat irons essentially have only a single function; requiring other tools to be purchased (and stored between uses) for other hair treatment functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flat iron for hair treatment which is of improved effectiveness, requiring fewer applications to the same hair strands to achieve the desired effect and of reduced likelihood of causing hair damage or scalp burns even beyond the reduction of the number of required applications to the same hair strands.

It is another object of the invention to provide, as a perfecting feature thereof, a flat iron for hair treatment which is also capable of functioning as a hair curling or crimping iron.

In order to accomplish these and other objects of the invention, a hair treatment flat iron is provided including two opposing portions, each opposing portion comprising a heated plate and a housing which presents a tapered cross-section terminating in surfaces at an acute angle to each other. As a perfecting feature of the invention, the acute angle is formed at one edge of either or both opposing portions and an opposite edge of the opposing portions presents a curved surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional flat iron for hair treatment,

FIG. 2 is a generalized illustration of hair treatment with a conventional flat iron to convey an understanding of a problem addressed by the invention,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hair treatment flat iron in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a generalized illustration of treatment of hair using the flat iron in accordance with the invention which is arranged to facilitate comparison with FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown, in perspective view, a generalized depiction of a commercially available flat iron for hair treatment. Since it is not intended that FIG. 1 (or FIG. 2) depict any particular commercially available flat iron and FIGS. 1 and 2 are generalized and arranged to facilitate an understanding of problems addressed by the invention, no portion of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 is admitted to be prior art in regard to the invention. However, since the distinctive features of the invention are not shown in these Figures, they have been designated as “Related Art”.

Specifically, as alluded to above, commercially available hair treatment flat irons have two opposing portions 12 pivotally connected to each other at one end by a spring loaded hinge 14 such that the opposing portions are normally spaced apart but can be brought together and into contact with each other by a comfortably light squeezing force applied by the hand while gripping the flat iron. The facing surface of the opposing portions 12 are fitted with plates 16, generally formed of aluminum with a surface covering of a ceramic material. Such a construction provides light weight, good distribution of heat generated by heating elements 18, much reduced adhesion to the hair and resistance to abrasion while providing a surface which can easily be moved across hair strands with minimal, if any, damage from friction. Heating elements 18 are preferably controlled thermostatically, either separately in common, and receive power through an electrical cord connection 20. The heating elements 18 are generally covered by a semi-cylindrical or dome shaped covering 22 of heat insulating material such that when the plates are brought together, the two opposing portions present a substantially cylindrical shape but when released assume an oval profile that will not roll when placed on a surface and will orient the heated plates in a generally vertical direction. The covering 22 may be extended over the edges of the plates 16 or the plates 16 may be separately treated or coated with a thermally insulating material to prevent the edges of the plates from contacting the scalp when in use or when the flat iron is placed on another surface.

The drawback in the design of commercially available flat irons is that the domed casing limits access to ironing the root of the hair at certain needed angles, due to oversized, bulky casing. Similar drawbacks occur, possibly in greater degree, with rectangular casings of similar overall size. The casing and awkwardness of seeking to approach the hair root as closely as possible can also extend the time of application of concentrated heat near the scalp and to the hair near the root and/or can create a horizontal bend or crease in the hair, which is aesthetically unpleasing. That is, the currently commercially available designs increases the chance of the flat iron plates or casing burning the scalp due to attempting to iron the hair at an awkward angle at which a close approach to the hair root is impossible due to the bulky casing as well as limiting the ability of an operator to closely approach the hair root with a flat iron as illustrated in FIG. 2. It should be noted that the angle of the flat iron shown in FIG. 2 generally places the opposing portions of the flat iron generally in line with the wrist as indicated by dashed line 26, schematically representing a hand, wrist and forearm (assuming the user is applying the flat iron to his or her own hair) and such an orientation limits the approach to the hair root to distance d. While such a position may be reasonably comfortable for the particular group of hair strands indicated, it can readily be visualized that altering the orientation of the flat iron rotationally (e.g. as indicated by the curved arrow in FIG. 2) to more closely approach the hair root would be much more awkward and uncomfortable, particularly in regard to the twisting of the wrist which would be required.

Additionally, the design of commercially available flat irons is flawed since it creates an unnatural movement of hands, wrists and arms and a lack of efficiency due to forced use at awkward angles; both of these flaws create potential discomfort and added strain on the operator. Commercially available flat irons are also is limited in that the two flat plates allow for only hair straightening and thus preclude other hair treatment operations such as to add curl to the hair without creating the horizontal creases, in this case at the ends of hair to each section of being ironed and which thus require not only additional tools specially designed for other purposes but also additional operations to carry out additional hair treatment operations.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of a hair treatment flat iron in accordance with the invention will now be discussed in detail. As with the commercially available hair treatment flat iron discussed above, the hair treatment flat iron in accordance with the invention also includes two opposing portions 110 pivotally joined at one end thereof by a spring loaded hinge 14. However, in accordance with the invention, the opposing portions have a cross-section resembling a triangle with a non-critical but relatively shallow or acute angle (e.g. 15° to 40°) at one side. Heated plates 120 which may be of any convenient size (e.g. generally about one and one-quarter inches by about four inches) may also be tapered in cross-section and such tapering may be advantageously employed to control heat distribution across the width of the plates. The plates may be of the conventional ceramic coated aluminum but could be entirely of a ceramic material or plural layers thereof that may be fabricated integrally with heating elements 140 which may be applied thereto, encased therein or otherwise be formed integrally with the plates. Heating elements 140 are also preferably of a low-profile configuration (e.g. formed in a generally planar, serpentine configuration which can also be advantageously shaped to control heat distribution in the plates as well as being easily contained within casing 130) which complements the narrow angular cross-section of the opposing portions. The casing may be simply extended slightly (e.g. about one-sixteenth inch which can be made adjustable in any of a number of ways that will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this description) beyond the edge of the respective plate 120 on one or both of the opposing portions 110 as illustrated at 150 to prevent contact of the plates with the scalp. An on/off switch and one or more indicators (e.g. LEDs) 155 may be included to indicate application of power and/or reaching an effective temperature.

It should be noted that this narrow and angled casing or housing shape is not only of reduced bulk compared with the commercially available flat irons discussed above but also defines three stable positions when the flat iron is placed on a surface. The two positions with the plates 120 in a horizontal orientation may also be advantageous in obtaining a desired temperature distribution across the width of the plates. While, in such an orientation, the upper plate may achieve a higher temperature by radiation and convection from the lower plate, the heat will be more evenly distributed across the upper plate and the temperature reached will be more uniform. The heat and more even temperature of the upper plate can be transferred to the other opposing plate by simply bringing the plates briefly into contact with each other before application to a group of hair strands.

It should also be appreciated that the narrow, angled shape of the opposing portions allows the roots of the hair to be closely approached over a wide range of angles as is evident from the illustration of FIG. 4. The ability to treat the hair closer to the scalp (e.g. distance d′) reduces the number of times the flat iron must be applied to a given group of hair strands in order to achieve the desired effect.

Therefore, the flat iron in accordance with the invention may be used both more effectively and with much greater convenience, reduced awkwardness and, importantly, reduced time of positioning close to the scalp and contact with the hair near the root. Thus, it can be seen that the flat iron in accordance with the invention allows several different effects which cooperate synergistically, in use, to reduce the likelihood of damage to the hair or injury to the scalp while both facilitating and expediting use to achieve a desired effect.

As a perfecting feature of the invention which is not necessary to its practice in accordance with its basic principles, it is preferred to provide a curved shape 160 to the edge of the plate and housing of one or both opposing portions 110. The curved portion of the plate will be heated although a lower temperature than the remainder of the plate may be desirable and can be achieved through design of heat conduction within the plate and exposure to ambient air while the curved portion of the housing will be relatively cool. This curved shape and temperature differential allows the side of the flat iron to also be used as a curling iron for curling the ends to the hair, possibly even in the same motion used for flat-ironing or a convenient, brief further stroke immediately thereafter with the flat iron reversed to curl the ends of the hair. Thus both types of treatments can be performed not only with the same tool but potentially in rapid sequence and in reduced time.

In view of the foregoing, it is clearly seen that the hair treatment flat iron in accordance with the invention provides a tool of improved effectiveness and increased safety: allowing treatment of the hair more proximate to the root thereof without the awkwardness associated with currently commercially available flat iron designs. By virtue of being able to treat the hair more proximate to the root and reduction in awkwardness of use, fewer application to a given group of hair strands is required while greatly reducing likelihood of damage to the hair or injury to the scalp. By virtue of reducing awkwardness of initially positioning the hair in the flat iron, the time of application of the flat iron and the concentrated heat thereof to the hair near the root and scalp also greatly reduce the likelihood and incidence of hair damage and scalp injury. The provision of a further curved surface as a perfecting feature of the invention allows the flat iron to be used as a curling or crimping iron, as well.

While the invention has been described in terms of a single preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A hair treatment flat iron including two opposing portions, each opposing portion comprising a heated plate and a housing which presents a tapered cross-section terminating in surfaces at an acute angle to each other.
 2. A hair treatment flat iron as recited in claim 1 wherein said tapered cross-section presents an acute angle at one edge of at least one of said two opposing portions and an opposite edge of at least one of said two opposing portions presents a curved surface.
 3. A hair treatment flat iron as recited in claim 2, wherein said curved surface includes a portion formed by an edge of said heated plate and a portion formed by said housing. 